Sharjah International Book Fair 2015 – 4 to 14th Nov

This year’s Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) 2015 will be held from 4 – 14th November at the Sharjah Expo Centre. This will be the 34th edition of #SIBF. Every year the expo gets bigger, with more publishers and events that range from kids to adults. With the newly expanded Expo Centre, even more activities have been included. Parking, a nightmare for most, has also been made bigger and easier to access for eager book lovers.

Starting 4th November there will be Cultural Programmes by eminent personalities and guests from all around the world, who will speak, teach and engage with the audience. Seminars on various topics based on the current popular trends, cross cultures, impact of books, and much more will take place. Famous authors from different languages, countries and cultures will have book launches, book reading and discussions with the audience.

The Children’s Programme will be a very interactive and educational experience for kids. School and college going students will have a lot of lectures and programs that carter to their education and their future role in society. Young children programmes include painting, games and entertaining shows.

The past book expos have had one important section which is very popular among the expo crowd – yes you guessed right – The Cookery Corner! It has been a huge success and world renowned chefs from around the world come and show their culinary skills and interact with the audience about their cooking experience. The visitors get to see their cooking idols interacting with them and learn from their experience. Food and books surely go hand in hand! This year there are many cookery activities like the Flipping Pizza, in which a great team of performers will entertain visitors by their pizza acrobatics show which is a sport and an art. … and you can also meet the Dumpling Sisters!

The guest list is astounding, from writers, theatre directors, novelists, poets, story tellers, journalists, actors, media personalities, researchers, artists, doctors, academicians, librarians, chefs… the list goes on. The quality and exhaustible guest list just shows the importance given to this amazing Book Fair in Sharjah.

Come be a part of the Sharjah International Book Fair 2015 with family and friends and make this experience a grand one.

More about #SIBF

Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) was launched in 1982 under the guidance and patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, to make the Emirate of Sharjah a beacon of Arab and International culture and literature.  The main aim of SIBF is to encourage reading among people, especially the younger generation, by making quality books accessible to them at affordable prices.

Our passion: The written word.

“For Love of The Written Word” is our inspiration, our passion and our reason for being, and the reason for launching the fair. These words have stimulated thought, inspired ideas and provoked action within each of us. They have helped us push ourselves beyond boundaries and have taken the Sharjah International Book Fair into the hearts of millions of readers, writers and publishers and literature lovers.

Decades of promoting the written word

The first chapter of the success story of the Sharjah International Book Fair dates back to 1982, when it was organised by the Department of Culture and Information at the Government of Sharjah, under the patronage of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah.

While promoting reading as a habit among the younger generation was the primary aim of the fair, instilling a love of literature among the UAE’s residents and visitors of all ages was the ultimate goal. This is because the Sharjah International Book Fair is the place where an enormous variety of good books are on offer at affordable prices for everyone.

In December 2014, the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) became the official organization responsible for overseeing and managing the SIBF, a move that contributes greatly to maintaining SIBF’s internationally acclaimed status. SIBF serves as the beating heart of SBA-the newly established government body that has a remit to encourage investment in creative industries and offer a platform for the exchange of knowledge and culture between people from different countries and cultures.

SBA is also entrusted with emphasizing the significant role of writers and their influence in spreading awareness in society about technological advancement and the availability of various sources of knowledge. SBA also aims to strengthen the emirate’s stature locally, regionally and internationally, and attract relevant bodies and figures involved in the cultural sector in general, and the publishing, printing, translation, documentation and children’s books sector in particular.

Over the years, the 11-day event has transformed into a literary carnival with over 1500 publishing houses participating from 64 countries and attracting over 1.4 million visitors from all over the world. Today, the Sharjah International Book Fair is a source of pride to the UAE, and one of the key pillars that raised the profile of Sharjah to now become the cultural capital of the region.

A Festival of Opportunities

Heritage, culture, traditions and contemporary creativity come together in glorious harmony at the Sharjah International Book Fair.

The fair provides unparalleled opportunities for book lovers to acquire their favourite pieces of literature at affordable prices and also offers an ideal platform for authors and publishers to meet and discuss the latest trends and developments in the industry, and explore the potential avenues for mutual cooperation.

In its new edition this year, the Sharjah International Book Fair continues to consolidate its status and expand its geographical reach, as evidenced by the participation of dozens of authors, intellectuals, media figures and cultural personalities in about 900 events aimed at all family members. The events feature seminars, lectures, poetry evenings, book signings, theatrical shows and performances, workshops and reading sessions, and much more.

Appreciation Awards

In recognition of its high quality of content and organisation, the Sharjah International Book Fair has been awarded membership to various international organisations such as the Afro-Asian Book Council, Arab Publishers’ Association, and GCC Book Committee and has also been recognised by the International Publishers Association.

The Sharjah International Book Fair has been named among the world’s top four book exhibitions for 2013. The industry specific, UK-based magazine “The Bookseller” placed SIBF in the top slot of the most coveted and authentic international book exhibitions’ rating.

In April 2015, the Sharjah International Book Fair won the Market Focus Achievement Award as part of the 2015 International Excellence Awards at the London Book Fair, in recognition of the role the fair and the emirate of Sharjah played in promoting culture and publishing and international market focus, as well as in cementing cooperation in the areas of culture between the Arab region and various countries in the world.

The Fair in numbers:

Established: 1982

Number of expected visitors in 2015: 1,600,000

Number of publishers in 2015: 1502

Participating countries in 2015: 64

Number of events in 2015: 900

SIBF – Sections:

The Sharjah International Book Fair comprises five man sections:

• Arabic Section
• Non-Arabic Section
• Children’s Section
• Official Exhibitors
• E-publishers

Participants

–  Authors

Some of the world’s most accomplished authors participate

The Sharjah International Book Fair is a meeting place for some of the world’s most celebrated authors. The number of authors who participate in this major event is on the increase year after year, signifying the resounding success and widespread popularity SIBF enjoys among intellectuals and readers.

–   Books

SIBF bookshelf: Adorned by the world’s finest titles

Books are the cornerstone of the Sharjah International Book Fair’s vision, and this is why the number of books increases year after year, in compliance with the highest standards set by the fair’s organisers.

–   Exhibitors

Over 1500 exhibitors from across the world

This year will see the participation of more than 1500 exhibitors in the Sharjah International Book Fair, highlighting the value and prestige enjoyed by the fair as one of the most important and popular book fairs in the world.

For more details please visit – http://sharjahbookfair.com/default.aspx